Rays trade Brosseau to Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers acquired infielder Mike Brosseau from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor-league right-hander Evan Reifert, the team announced Saturday.

Brosseau was most famous in Tampa Bay for his division series-winning home run off Aroldis Chapman in the 2020 playoffs.

That blast came during what was a breakout season at the plate for the 27-year-old, something he couldn't replicate in 2021. Over 57 big-league appearances this past year, he hit just .187/.266/.347 with five homers and spent a large portion of the season at Triple-A. Brosseau owns a lifetime .749 OPS with 16 homers and 46 RBIs over parts of three big-league seasons.

He brings plenty of defensive value as a positive defender at second, third, and first base, and he has some experience in the outfield. Brosseau also won't enter arbitration until next winter.

"Mike is a guy who is not too far removed from being a big part of a team that went to the World Series," Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "He can play everywhere, he's a great guy, he plays hard. There's a lot to like about this type of acquisition for our team."

Reifert, 22, made his professional debut in the Brewers' system this past summer. In 37 relief appearances split between Low-A Carolina and High-A Wisconsin, he posted a 2.10 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 103 strikeouts and eight saves.